Splashbacks and tiling in Hexham

Why do people in Hexham choose splashbacks and tiling?

If your Hexham home is an older property with uneven walls, the splashback may start with patching, skimming or boarding so the tiler has a flat surface to work from.

Landlords around Northumberland often prefer plain tiles with mid-grey grout or a glass panel, since both stand up to heavy use and are quick to clean between tenancies. We cover all of Hexham, including the NE46 postcode district, and travel out to neighbouring towns across Northumberland.

What is included in the work?

The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Hexham covers:

Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line

What should you budget for splashbacks and tiling in Hexham?

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in the North East, and are firmed up once we have seen your Hexham kitchen. Labour rates in the North East are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.

What should you budget for splashbacks and tiling in Hexham?
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£140–£360
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£270–£720
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£220–£540
Stone upstands and splashbacksTemplated with the worktop	Priced with the worktop

Tiling guide ranges cover preparation, adhesive, grout, trims and fixing, with the tiles themselves confirmed once chosen; the glass range includes a made-to-measure panel, and stone upstands are priced with the worktop. Prices include VAT at 20%.

Local homes and their kitchens

In and around Hexham, homes range across stone-built cottages, colliery terraces, post-war semis and farmhouses. Colliery terraces in Ashington and Blyth often have a small kitchen in the rear offshoot, while stone cottages and farmhouses tend to have a square kitchen with thick walls.

Northumberland's mains water is mostly soft, so limescale is less of a concern and taps and boiling water taps tend to stay cleaner. Remote farms and villages may be reached by long single-track roads, so delivery vehicle size and timing need planning, especially for long worktops.

What rules apply to splashbacks and tiling in Hexham?

Tiling or fitting a splashback in England needs no planning permission or building regulations approval. If sockets or switches are moved to suit the new wall finish, that is electrical work to BS 7671; adding to an existing kitchen circuit is not notifiable under Part P, but a new circuit is. Behind a gas hob, follow the hob maker's clearance instructions, and in a listed building, removing historic tiles or panelling may need listed building consent.

Homes inside Northumberland National Park, listed buildings and conservation areas in towns such as Alnwick and Hexham may need consent for new vents or alterations.

Practical advice for Hexham homeowners

Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Hexham home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Hexham kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Choosing stone worktops for a Hexham kitchen? Ask for upstand and splashback heights to be confirmed before the template visit, not after.
Toughened glass cannot be cut once it is made, so it is measured after the worktops are fixed and every socket position is final.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Hexham

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Hexham?

Splashbacks and tiling in Hexham typically cost £140 to £360 including VAT for a tiled splashback, based on prices in the North East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Which parts of Hexham do you work in?

All of them. Our Northumberland coverage takes in the whole of Hexham, including the NE46 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Consett. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

Can a glass splashback go behind a gas hob?

Yes, usually, as long as the glass is toughened and the hob maker's instructions allow it. Toughened glass handles heat far better than ordinary glass, but a gas hob must still keep the clearances set out in its installation instructions, so we check those before ordering. The panel is measured after the worktops are fitted and made with cut-outs for sockets, because it cannot be cut once toughened.

Which grout and sealant are easiest to keep clean?

A darker or mid-tone grout in narrow joints is usually the easiest to keep looking clean in a kitchen, and an epoxy or stain-resistant grout helps behind the hob and sink. Where the tiles meet the worktop, a flexible sealant is used rather than grout, because that joint moves slightly. The sealant can be cut out and renewed later without disturbing the tiles.

Can you tile over existing kitchen tiles?

Sometimes, but it is rarely the better choice in a kitchen. Tiling over old tiles adds thickness, so sockets, switches and the edge against the wall units may no longer line up, and the new tiles rely on the old ones staying firmly bonded. If the existing tiles are sound and flat it can work for a small area; otherwise we remove them and prepare the wall.

Also covering nearby towns

The same service is available a short drive from Hexham, including: